OSHA announces adjustments to civil penalty amounts

On January 13, 2021, the US Department of Labor has announced adjustments to OSHA civil penalty amounts based on cost of living adjustments for 2021. OSHA’s maximum penalties for serious and other than serious violations will increase from US$13,494 to US$13,653 per violation. The maximum penalty for willful or repeated violations will increase from US$134,937 to US$136,532 per violation.

In 2015, Congress passed the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act to advance the effectiveness of civil monetary penalties and to maintain their deterrent effect. Under the Act, agencies are required to publish “catch-up” rules that adjust the level of civil monetary penalties and make subsequent annual adjustments for inflation no later than January 15 of each year.